# XX explained — Now It Can Be Told

> Chapter companion for Now It Can Be Told by Philip Gibbs.

## What happens

The narrator reflects on the intellectual and temperamental limitations of British generals, criticizing their narrow worldview, rigid methods, and the systemic favoritism within the Regular Army that excluded talented civilian officers. He contrasts this with the successful leadership of the Australian and Canadian Corps, whose commanders came from civilian backgrounds.

## Themes in this chapter

### Class and Inequality

The narrator criticizes the 'close corporation' of Regular Army officers that excluded talented civilians, highlighting class-based barriers to command.

### Betrayal by Leadership

The generals are portrayed as intellectually limited and trapped in outdated traditions, betraying the troops through poor leadership.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

Critiques the British High Command and praises civilian-soldier leadership.

### General Currie

Mentioned as a Canadian Corps commander who was an estate agent before the war.

### The Australians

Cited for able generalship under civilian commanders like Hobbs and Monash.

### The Canadians

Noted for effective leadership under General Currie and other non-regular officers.

## Key lines

> One has to leave many gaps in one’s conversation with generals

Conversations with generals required careful omission of certain topics.

_Illustrates the narrow intellectual range of the High Command._

> Our Staff College had been hopelessly inefficient in its system of training, if I am justified in forming such an opinion from specimens produced by it, who had the brains of canaries and the manners of Potsdam.

The Staff College produced officers with little intelligence and Prussian-like arrogance.

_Harsh critique of the military education system._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters/xx
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/now_it_can_be_told_se/chapters